Railroad-tie.



PATENTED MAY 28, 1907.

R. L. BOWER.

RAILROAD TIE. Agrmoulon TILED JAN. 2 s, 1907.

WITNESSES A TTOHNE Y8 ROBERT L. BOWER, OF BLANDBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed January 26,1907. serial 354,173.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. BOWER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Blandburg, in the county of Cambria and State ofPennsylvania,-have invented a new and Improved Railroad-Tie, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to metallic railroad ties, and its object is toprovide a new and improved railroad tie which is simple, durale andexceedingly strong in construction, practically indestructible, cheap tomanufacture and sufiiciently elastic to slightly yield according to theload.

he invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and thenpointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all'theviews.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement as applied; Fig. 2 isan enlarged end elevation of the improvement; Figs. 3 and 4 are endelevations of modified forms of the improvement; Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of another modified form of the improvement ig. 6 is a perspectiveview of another modified form of the improvement; and Figs. 7 and 8 areend elevations of other modified forms of the improvement, part of Fig.8being shown in section.

The metallic railroad tie is made from a single piece of sheet metal Aof a width corresponding to the length of the tie, the sheet metal beingrolled up so as to produce a tie of uniform strength and of practicallynormal width and thickness, as plainly indicated in the drawings. Thesheet of metal A may be rolled up in various forms, as indicated in thedrawings, but in such a manner that each tie is preferably provided witha base A and a flat top A arranged to support the rails B, as indicatedin Fig. 1. In the preferred con struction shown in Fig. 1, the base A aswell as the top A are flat and are formed of multiple layers.

The uppermost layer of the top A is preferably extended, as at A beyondone side of the tie, and on this extended portion are held suitablefastening means 0 for engaging the base of the rail, to securely holdthe same in position on the top A of the tie.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the fastenwith apertures A ing means Care in the form of a bolt having an enlarged head at the upper end forengagement with the base of the rail, but I do not limit myself to theparticular fastening means described, as the same may be varied withoutdeviating from my invention.

It will also be noticed by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that one end ofthe sheet of metal forming the tie is the uppermost layer of the bottomor base A of the tie, while the other end of the piece of sheet metalforms the upper layer of the top A as well as the extension A The sidesA and A of the tie are formed of two layers, and both sides A and A arecurved or arched, so as to give considerable. strength to the hollow ortubular metal tie. The extension A of the top A is provided forreceiving spikes, bolts or other fastening means, to allow of fasteningthe tie to bridge planks or other supports.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, the sheet of metal D is rolled upto form three contacting layers at the bottom D and the top D and theuppermost layer of the top D is extended at both sides, as at D D toform flanges for receiving the fastening means E, E, similar to thefastening means 0 above described. The extension D is doubled up and thefastening means E pass through both layers, as indicated in Fig. 3. Thesides D and D are formed of three contacting layers, and both sides Dand D are rounded or arched for the purpose previously mentioned.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4, the piece of sheet metal F isrolled up to form contacting layers, producing a flat bottom F and aflat top F and angular sides F in diagonal shape, as Will be readilyunderstood by reference to Fig. 4.

Fastening means G for securing the rails in place are held on the upperportion of the tie, and similar fastening means G are arranged on thelower or base portion of the tie, to securely fasten the latter togirders or other supports on bridges and the like.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, the piece of sheet metal H isrolled upinto contacting layers forming a flat bottom H, a fiat top Hand curved sides H H similar to the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Bothends of the sheet of metal form portions of the bottom H and the outerend is extended, as at H to produce a larger base, the extension H beingprovided with apertures most or free edge of the sheet is extended at Hfor spikes, bolts and like devices, to per- 1 mit of securing the tie togirders or other supports. The uppermost layer of the top H of the tieshown in Fig. 5 is provided with I struck up lugs H between which passesthe base of the rail resting on the upper surface of the top H and thesaid lugs H are provided with apertures for bolts to hold the rail inplace on the tie.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 6, the piece of sheet metal Iis rolled up into a large number of contacting layers, to form anexceedingly strong tie for heavy traffic. The uppermost or top layer Iis provided with cut-out portions I for the reception of bolts or likefastening devices I to securely fasten the rail in place.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 7, the piece of sheet metal J isrolled up to form a round bottom and a flat extension top J for the railto rest on, and in the modified form shown in Fig. 8, the piece of sheetmetal K is rolled up to form a single convolution having an extensiontop K for the rail to rest on.

This form is more especially designed for light traffic. In both formsshown in Figs. 7 and 8, the to is provided with holes for the reception0 bolts or other fastening devices to secure the rails in place.

Although I have shown some forms of the approved tie it is evident thatI do not limit myself to the same, as the piece of sheet metal may berolled up into different shapes without deviating from the invention. Itis understood, however, that by rolling up the sheet metal to formcontacting layers an exceedingly strong and durable tie is produced andone which is sufficiently elastic and yielding to compensate for theload. It is understood that for light traffic the piece of sheet metalis rolled up to form, say one or two contacting layers, as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 8, but for heavier traffic three, four or more suchcontacting layers are preferred, so as to give the desired strength tothe tie.

It will be evident from the description, that the improved tie consistsof a sheet of metal rolled up to form a plurality of superimposedconvolutions, and that the outera tangent to the outer convolution toform a brace to prevent the rolling of the tie.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Let ters Patent:

1. A railroad tie made of a sheet of metal rolled up to form a pluralityof superimposed convolutions.

2. A railroad tie made of a sheet of metal rolled up to form a pluralityof superimposed convolutions, and having a flat base for the railroadbed and a flat top for the rails to rest on.

3. A railroad tie made of a single piece of sheet metal of a widthcorresponding to the length of the tie, the said piece of sheet metalbeing rolled up to form contacting layers, the lower multiple layersproducing a flat base and the upper multiple layers producing a flattop.

4. A railroad tie made of a single piece of sheet metal of a Widthcorresponding to the length of the tie, the said piece of sheet metalbeing rolled up to form contacting layers, the lower multiple layersproducing a flat base and the upper multiple layers producing a flattop, and fastening devices on the said. top for securing the rails inplace.

5. A railroad tie made of a single piece of sheet metal of a widthcorresponding to the length of the tie, the said piece of sheet metalbeing rolled up to form contacting layers, the lower multiple layersproducing a flat base and the upper multiple layers producing a flattop, the latter terminating in a single layer, and fastening means onthe said terminals for engaging the rails.

6. A railroad tie made of. a single piece of sheet metal of a widthcorresponding to the length of the tie, the said piece ofsheet metalbeing rolled up into tubular form, the tube having multiple layers atthe flat top and the fiat bottom. a h

7. A railroad tie made of a single piece of sheet metal of a widthcorresponding to the length of the tie, the said piece of sheet metalbeing rolled up into tubular form, the tube having multiple layers attheflat top and the flat bottom, one end of the said sheet forming theupper layer of the bottom of the tie and the other end of the said sheetforming the upper layer of the top-of the tie.

8. A railroad tie made of a single piece of sheet metal of a Widthcorresponding to the length of the tie, the said piece of sheet metalbeing rolled up into tubular form, the

tube having multiple layers at the flat top and the flat bottom, one endof the said sheet forming the upper layer of the bottom of the tie andthe other end of the said sheet forming the upper layer of the top ofthe tie, the said upper layer of the top of the tie being extendedbeyond one side thereof.

9. A railroad tie made of a single piece of sheet metal of a Widthcorresponding to the length of the tie, the said piece of sheet metalbeing rolled up into tubular form, the

tube having multiple layers at the flat top and the flat bottom, one endof the said sheet forming the upper layer of the bottom of the tie andthe other end of the said sheet forming the upper layer of the top ofthe tie, the said upper layer of the top of the tie being extendedbeyond one side thereof, and fastening means on the said extendedportion for securing the rails in place.

10. A railroad tie made of a sheet of metal rolled up to form aplurality of superimposed convolutions, the free edge of the sheet beingextended at a tangent to the outer layer, whereby to form a brace toprevent rolling of the tie.

11. A railroad tie made of a sheet of metal rolled up to form a tube,the freeedge of the sheet being extended at a tangent

